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Democrats scare off the median voter – The Week Magazine

Posted: September 24, 2021 at 11:10 am

The Democratic Party, with the narrowest of majorities, is trying to pass two bills through Congress that, in their current form, would increase federal spending by roughly $4.5 trillion with an as-yet indeterminate amount of compensating revenue increases. At the same time, the Democrats also want to boost the party's popularity heading into the 2022 midterms and, ultimately, the 2024 presidential election.

If a recent Matthew Yglesias Substack post is right, it might not be possible to do both.

That's because, as Yglesias argues, the median voter in America is a 50-something white person who didn't graduate from college and lives in the suburbs of an unfashionable American city. And this median voter is unlikely to support policies favored by the party's progressive caucus, which has so far had the biggest say on what's in these bills. That means that the Democrats are spending months trying to pass legislation that's well to the left of the median American voter when appealing to the median voter is the best, and perhaps only, way to increase the political power of Democrats in Washington over the next few election cycles.

Now, of course this doesn't mean the Dems should mimic Republicans and pass a big tax cut and support no new significant spending. Yglesias' median voter theorem applies most powerfully to culture-war issues, and some of the policy proposals in the two spending bills hard infrastructure (roads and bridges), for example, as well as regulations on prescription drug pricing are quite broadly popular. The Democrats would be foolish not to pass and run on these initiatives in 2022 and beyond.

But much of the rest of what's in especially the second, much larger ($3.5 trillion) bill? It's a mixed bag, like the bill itself. Some items poll well, others less so. But as progressive pundit Eric Levitz admits, the enormous spending Congress passed early on in the Biden presidency (including substantial checks sent to many millions of Americans) didn't do much of anything to boost Biden's approval rating. So whether any item in the current spending bills does anything to help Democrats is unclear. But what is clear is that the enormous overall price tag will almost certainly be hung around the party's neck by Republicans as the country heads into the midterms.

That won't hurt progressive members of the Democratic caucus in the House, who in most cases come from safely blue districts. But Democrats from purple districts, like many Democratic senators up for re-election next year, could find themselves running headlong into a Republican buzz saw if Biden ends up signing the larger bill in its current form.

It certainly wouldn't be the first time Democrats traded a progressive victory on policy for broader popularity and future power.

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Democrats are governing like Republicans – The Week Magazine

Posted: at 11:10 am

Democrats can blame the filibuster, gerrymandering, even the basic structure of the Senate for their inability to fulfill their New Deal wishes and Great Society dreams. But one problem they have is more fundamental: They are trying to enact big programs with historically small majorities.

The party held no fewer than 59 Senate seats and north of 300 House seats when the major New Deal legislation was passed. Democrats enjoyed a 68-32 Senate majority and a 295-140 edge in the House at the height of the Great Society. Democrats held roughly three-fifths majorities in both houses of Congress when they passed President Bill Clinton's 1993 tax increase and ObamaCare, even if both prevailed only by small margins.

Democrats are trying to pass a slew of liberal legislation, anchored by a $3.5 trillion spending package, with a 50-50 Senate and just four seats more than a bare majority in the House. They feel justified in doing so not only because they think their majorities should rightfully be bigger without the structural inequities mentioned above, but also because they are sure Republicans would usher in the conservative equivalent under the same circumstances.

After all, Republicans pushed through three conservative Supreme Court justices including one just before an election polls showed they were likely to lose without the filibuster. They passed the 2001 Bush tax cuts through reconciliation in an equally divided Senate, although 12 Democrats joined in, and the 2003 sequel 51-49 in the same chamber.

Democrats find themselves in a position similar to Republicans in recent years: Their majorities are small by historical standards, but more ideologically homogeneous than before. They have a faction that is so intent on ensuring purity that they are willing to sink legislation, assuming the Congressional Progressive Caucus is truly willing to use its leverage in a Freedom Caucus-like manner. And because majorities are so small, the moderates remain a faction that can disrupt all the carefully laid plans (even if they normally cave).

The political conditions facing Nancy Pelosi are not all that dissimilar from those of John Boehner, the man who tearfully handed her the gavel the first time she became speaker. Time will tell whether Democrats have more to show for their majorities in the end.

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Why Islamic State in Afghanistan harks on the concept of Khorasan and what it means for India – The Indian Express

Posted: at 11:10 am

In the wake of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, the presence of another radical Islamic organisation, the Islamic State Khorasan Province or ISKP, has become a matter of worry across the world. The ISKP had claimed the attack on the Kabul airport last month. The group, being ideologically opposed to the Taliban, has a vision of the region with much bigger implications for India.

The ISKP envisions the creation of a historical region that went by the name of Khorasan. Historically, the region being referred to as Khorasan had varying borders depending on its political rulers. But scholars do agree that the origins of the term, which means rising sun, lies in the Sasanian Empire in what is modern day Iran. Khorasan, under the Sassanians, comprised the north eastern part of Iran. At the same time, there was a persistent notion of a Greater Khorasan, comprising large parts south of the Aral Sea.

Theoretically, then, the eastern frontier of Khurasan went as far as China, but in fact it seldom extended very far past Balkh into the district known as Turkharistan (roughly analogous to ancient Bactria), writes historian Elton L. Daniel in his book, The political and social history of Khurasan under Abbasid rule, 747-820 (1979). So, despite its varying notions in the Islamic world, Khorasan seldom crossed beyond the region that is modern day Afghanistan.

In recent years, the first time the term Khorasan was adopted by a radical Islamic group was in 1996 by Osama Bin Laden of Al-Qaeda. At this point, Afghanistan was the base of operations for the larger goals of establishing an Islamic Caliphate after driving the United States out of Saudi Arabia and destroying Israel. Bin Laden, operating from Afghanistan, proclaimed that he had found a safe refuge in Khorasan. Later, the same term was adopted by the ISKP, which claimed Khorasan to be the land encompassing Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and Central Asian republics, northwestern or sometimes all of India, and Russia.

Both Al-Qaeda and the ISKP are in fact not based in Khorasan. Historically speaking, Khorasan never went south of the Hindu Kush. But the allies of Al-Qaeda and ISKP are Pakistani Jihadi groups who wish to include Kashmir in their area of operations. They are not interested in the Arab world issues, and are rather looking east, explains Dr. Amin Tarzi, director of Middle Eastern Studies at Marine Corps University, in an interview with Indianepxress.com. Consequently, these groups hark back to Islamic history to find political currency in the significance of Khorasan. Indeed there was much to appropriate here, as the region of Khorasan is of special significance in the political and cultural history of Islam as well as in Islamic theology.

Modern scholars of Islamic history agree on this idea that between the seventh century CE when the Sasanian Empire collapsed with the Muslim conquest and the 13th century CE, Khorasan went from being in the margins of empire to becoming the centre and then again withdrawing to the margins. Its very name (literally Khurasan means the land of the rising sun) hints at its marginal position vis-a-vis the centre of the Sasanian Empire, which was first in Fars, then in Iraq, writes historian of medieval Iran David Durand Guedy in his article, Pre-Mongol Khurasan: A historical introduction (2015).

The Encyclopaedia Iranica notes that during the Arab Islamic invasion, Khorasan seemed to have corresponded to an abstract geographical entity. The Arab armies did not limit their conquest to the boundaries of Sasanian Khorasan, but rapidly passed the Oxus River through the Kara Kum desert and advanced through Sogdiana toward the northeast, to stop later on the Talas River around 750 CE, it suggests.

In his article, Guedy explains that the biggest impact of the Arab conquest was the unification of the territories that were previously divided under the common umbrella term called Khorasan. He also writes that unlike other provinces, Khurasan also saw the massive installation of Arab settlers, perhaps as many as 250,000, which reflects both its strategic importance as well as its potential wealth. He adds: Logically the the conversion of the local population to Islam began there earlier.

Rocco Rante, archaeologist at the department of Islamic Art in the Louvre Museum says that excavations in the area show cultural and technological similarities, proving that the Greater Khorasan area came to be unified from Herat to Balkh. Sometimes we can find similar objects from the other side of the Oxus River as well.

Speaking about the strategic importance of the Khorasan region to the Islamic Caliphate, Daniel says, All the major trade routes went through this area. Controlling it was important to control the world economy. Politically, he says, the area was crucial to the Caliphate because it was the military frontier for Islamic expansion eastwards. Khorasan was also the richest province in terms of the amount of taxes it paid to the Caliphate. Financially, militarily, and commercially, this area was critical for the Caliphate, says Daniel who is Director at Ehsan Yarshater Center For Iranian Studies in Columbia University.

The importance of this area also stems from the fact that it was the cradle of the Abbasid Revolution, a critical moment in Islamic history. Hitherto the Islamic world was ruled by the Umayyads, an Arab dynasty. Non-Arabs in the region, including those who had converted to Islam, were particularly distressed by the discriminatory treatment meted out to them under the Umayyads. The Abbasid dynasty that stood up in opposition to them claimed descent from al-Abbas, an uncle of the Prophet. Under the leadership of Abu Muslim, a Persian general, the Abbasids toppled the Umayyad dynasty.

This was an extremely significant event because this is when the idea that in order to be Muslim one also had to be Arab is rejected. The idea of Islam as a multi-national, multi-ethnic religion grew out of these events, says Daniel.

Thereafter, leaders of the Caliphate were no longer Arabs. They were Iranians and other Easterners drawn in from Central Asia. The centre of the Muslim world shifted from Baghdad to Khorasan region, that now became the linchpin of the Muslim Empire.

Under the Abbasids this region acquired a newfound cultural significance. Rante explains that it would be incorrect to assume that the material cultural productions at Khorasan were superior to that in other parts of the Muslim world. However, after the Abbasid revolution, Khorasan assumed a political role way more important than what it was before.

The Encyclopaedia Iranica suggests that it was from the provinces association with the Abbasids that hadiths or traditions came into circulation like the one attributed to the Prophet: Khorasan is Gods quiver; when He becomes angry with a people, he launches at them the Khorasanis.

Consequently, Khorasan also became a space for intellectual productions, with the city of Nishapur at the centre of it. The multi-ethnic nature of Islam here was one of main reasons behind the region producing exciting new works in philosophy, science, and literature.

Nishapurs lively intellectual climate was not solely the product of legal and theological disputes and civil strife. The presence there of articulate Zoroastrians and Christians also played a role, as did, the submerged traditions of Buddhism and the ongoing intellectual contacts with India, writes S.Frederick Starr, an expert on Russian and Eurasian affairs in his book, Lost Enlightenment: Central Asias Golden Age from the Arab Conquest to Tamerlane (2013).

One of the first philosophers to emerge here was a polymath by the name Abul-Abbas Iranshahri who brought to his philosophy a deep knowledge of Christianity and Zoroastrianism. He is known to have produced works on astronomy as well and firmly believed in the rational intellect of humans to approach questions of existence.

One of Iranshahris students, Muhammad ibn Zakariya al-Razi, is noted by Starr in his book as being the greatest medical clinician of all times. Then there was the ninth century scholar, Jabir Ibn Hayyan who is known to have authored an enormous volume of works dealing with Chemistry, alchemy, magic and religion.

Khurasan produced more than its share of skeptics and radical freethinkers, writes Starr. This was no surprise as people of this region were reading, editing and translating religious texts for a while now. Several of these freethinkers focused their attack squarely on Islam.

For instance, there was Abu Hasan Ahmad Ibn Al-Rawandi born around 820 CE in Lesser Merv (what is now northern Afghanistan). As Starr writes, Rawandi used logic and reason to plumb the nature of religion and is supposed to have mastered the art of using the Bible against the Bible and the Quran against the Quran to show The Futility of Divine Wisdom, the title of one of his diatribes against all revealed religions. He wrote close to 114 books and treatises on philosophy, politics, music, grammar, but none of them survive today, nor does any of his poetry.

No discussion of intellectual productions in Khorasan is complete without referring to the Shahnameh, an epic written by the Persian poet Firdawsi in the 10th century CE. The Shahnameh provides a mythical and historical account of the Persian Empire. It is believed to be one of the longest epic poems of the world, and is deemed to be part of global cultural heritage.

When the Abbasids were defeated by the Mongols in the 13th century, the Khorasan region once again lost its centrality and went into the periphery. The next time this region becomes important is under the Timurids. But by now the name Khorasan is no longer in usage. The centre of the empire shifted to Bukhara (in present day Uzbekistan) and Balkh (in present day Afghanistan) and the region of Khorasan lost the political significance it had before, says Tarzi. It had to do with geopolitics and changing of the empires.

The next time that the term Khorasan emerged in popular consciousness was in 1932 when the prominent Afghan historian and politician Mir Ghulam Muhammad Ghobar in his writings, called Afghanistan as Aryana (land of the Aryans) in pre-Islamic times and as Khorasan after the Islamic conquests. After modern Afghanistan is born the Afghans proclaim Abu Muslim, the Abbasid general as their hero. This was done not for religious reasons but for a nationalist cause to stand up against the Arabs, says Tarzi. The Afghans even changed the birthplace of Abu Moslem to a village in Afghanistan called Sar-e-Pol rather than the conventional location near Isfahan in Iran. Tarzi explains that in the mid-20th century several books and historians in Afghanistan repeatedly referred to their country as Khorasan, much of which, he says, was based on very thin historical evidence.

In the 1980s and 90s, the term emerged once again, this time though it is Islamic extremism that usurps its symbolism. Tarzi in an article published in 2020 explains that from the initial phases of the Afghan Mujahideen political campaigns against the Soviets (1979-89) to the internal conflict with the Taliban (1994-2001), Khorasan became a term of reference used by some of the local, mainly non-Pashtun groups to propagate the idea that their armed struggle went beyond freeing the country from the foreign yoke and communism or the Taliban. For them, it was a call to return the country to its pre-1747 political makeup, the time before modern-day Afghanistan emerged as a political unit ruled by Dorrani.

After the departure of the Soviets from Afghanistan, the focus of the Al-Qaeda formed in the 1980s shifted to a more global jihadist agenda. Afghanistan served as the base for Bin Laden and it was from here that he proclaimed his safe refuge in Khorasan. Scholars explain that the theological aspect of the Al-Qaedas use of the Khorasan symbolism is based on a few hadiths (traditions or sayings of the Prophet) that associated the region with future events. The most referenced hadith, of which there are several renditions, conveys the message that there would emerge from Khorasan an army carrying black banners that no one would repel until it raised its banners Ilia (the name used in early Muslim sources for Jerusalem), writes Tarzi.

Taken in this context, perhaps it is no surprise as to why Al-Qaeda chose to represent itself with a black flag. They even published a magazine, Talai i Khorasan (Vanguard of Khorasan) detailing the virtues and significance of Khorasan in Islamic thought.

With the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, Jihadish organisations, including many in the ranks of Al-Qaeda were prompted to shift focus westwards. The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) was formed, which no longer looked east to fulfill its destiny and the idea of Khorasan once again waned. It emerged once again in 2015 when the ISKP was born. To them, Khorasan, the region, encompassed the fluid borders between Afghanistan and Pakistan and went on to include countries like Iran, other Central Asian republics, parts of Russia and parts of India. Members of the group, explains Tarzi, included disgruntled jihadists in Afghanistan who were against Pashtun nationalism and those in Pakistan working against India to occupy Kashmir.

Even though the ISKP claims to be an offshoot of ISIS and while they both wish to create an Islamic world, in their aims and vision they both are remarkably different. The ISKP is clearly looking towards India. Their map of Khorasan includes large parts of north India where the Mughals ruled and they do not include most of southern India, says Tarzi. He reiterates that even in the heyday of Islamic rule in India, it was never called Khorasan India was called Al-Hind.

Speaking about the implications of the ISKPs vision for India, Tarzi explains that firstly one needs to see to what extent their ideology resonates with radical Islamic groups within India. Secondly, they would need support from a different country to germinate further. This is dependent on international relations among countries in the region. So, if Indias relations with one of its neighbouring countries deteriorates they might find support there, says Tarzi.

At present the ISKP stands firmly diminished in the wake of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. This is one of the reasons for the Taliban finding favourability among the Chinese and the Russians. While the Talibans extremist ideology is definitely seen as worrying, it is recognised as being restricted to Afghanistan, while the ISKP is seen as a much bigger regional threat.

It is indeed interesting that the symbol of Khorasan that the radical Islamic groups employ harks back to a time and space of intellectual enlightenment and cultural productions. It is true that Islam has made so many positive contributions to the history and development of this region, says Tarzi. These extremist organisations do not have that kind of a vision. Their only vision is to create fear and work for whoever pays them.

Further reading:

Elton L. Daniel, The political and social history of Khurasan under Abbasid rule, 747-820,Bibliotheca Islamica, 1979

Rocco Rante (ed.),Greater Khorasan: History, Geography, archaeology and material culture,De Gruyter, 2015

S. Frederick Starr, Lost Enlightenment: Central Asias Golden Age from the Arab Conquest to Tamerlane, Princeton University Press, 2015

Amin Tarzi,Khorasan in modern Islamist ideology,in Encyclopaedia Iranica, Brill Publishers, Fascicle XVI/6, 2020

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2 Words Explain the Real Reason Elon Musk Lives in a $50000 Tiny Home – Inc.

Posted: at 10:58 am

Elon Musk's vision is clear, "to have enough capital to colonize Mars." But his decision to live in a 400 square foot prefab tiny home isn't just about freeing up capital to afford his mission and a whim of minimalistic enlightenment.

To process towards achieving this out-of-this-world plan to colonize Mars means doing whatever it takes. And that includes selling off a multi-million dollar property portfolio and living in a rented home that costs just $50,000 to build. A house so small and lightweight, a Tesla can trailer it around--no semi-trucks required.

On top of that, his tiny home doesn't resemble the quaint minimalist homes resting upon stunning landscapes with million-dollar views, as you might see in architecture magazines or in Airbnb's list of unique homes. His rented tiny home is on the bleak grounds of SpaceX in Boca Chica, Texas--a rural area lacking any form of glamour synonymous with the billionaire lifestyle.

But his goal isn't to have the biggest home in the best neighborhood but rather to create neighborhoods and homesteads on another planet. And the way in which that could be done depends on a lot more than an immense amount of capital. It requires an equally immense amount of planning, testing, and preparation.

If you look at Musk's Mars plans, you'll notice that, not surprisingly, the homes don't exactly resemble a city like Manhattan, nor does it look like your token, white picket fence-clad suburban developments. Constructing dwellings on another planet would naturally look different from what we're used to on this planet.

To effectively build a colony on Mars, buildings would need to be erected quickly and easily, with as little energy as possible. In other words, colonizing Mars would require a highly streamlined process with great precision. One that would look much like an assembly line within the most advanced manufacturing processes.

One variable in the success of this process would depend upon employing very small, lightweight, and easily transported materials. One that would likely function a lot like a Boxable home--Elon Musk's current dwelling.

That's right, it appears the real reason Musk is living in a $50,000 pre-fabricated tiny home is for product testing purposes.

It's not just the house itself that Musk is testing out either. He could have just as easily downsized and lived quite practically anywhere. And yet, he chose Boca Chica, Texas, an area consisting of miles of flatlands and a 40-minute drive from civilization. An area that, in many ways, provides a taste of what life on Mars might be like.

What it boils down to is his commitment to his goal. Musk has stated that, "when Tesla and SpaceX go bankrupt, I will go bankrupt personally." But the genius of Musk's mini house isn't just that he's all-in with skin in the game, but that he's willing to live his vision--helping it come to life in the process.

In an interview, Musk has stated that "I think possessions kind of weigh you down." And though the notion is at the core of minimalism, the seemingly universal statement says a lot coming from the man who is on a mission to colonize a planet 246-million miles away from Earth.

It's not enough to know where you want to be, you need to know how to get there--a key factor in learning how to launch like Elon Musk. Knowing what weighs you down is a vital aspect of planning for success is product testing, which provides an example of where Musk does a brilliant job of applying his brilliance and a vital aspect in strategy that drives success.

The most successful entrepreneurs don't just dream big, but they're ruthlessly committed to the point of putting everything on the line to make what might appear to be far-fetched dreams to others, their reality. And this doesn't just mean going all-in financially but going all-in when it comes to all facets in the pursuit of a goal. It's the Founders, like Elon Musk that do the unheard of who manages to do the unthinkable.

The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.

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Mars Attacks!: What Ever Happened To The Cast? – Looper

Posted: at 10:58 am

The president's lascivious press secretary, Jerry Ross (played by actor Martin Short), sees this whole Martian arrival as a big opportunity, both for the country and the president himself. He encourages the commander-in-chief to appear on TV and announce the alien presence outside the Earth's atmosphere before any news outlet can beat them to the punch. Jerry's proclivities for taking call girls back to the White House leads to him inadvertently aiding the Martians in their attempt to kill the president. Whoops.

In the 1997 comedy "Jungle 2 Jungle," Short played the role of cranky businessman Richard Kempster, partner toMichael Cromwell (Tim Allen), who learns he has a sonnamed Mimi-Siku (Sam Huntington) with his soon-to-be ex-wifePatricia (JoBeth Williams) in Venezuela. The same year, he played Murray, a fairy godfather toAnnabel (Mara Wilson), whose wish is to see her father land a role in a musical version of Charles Dickens' "A Tale of Two Cities" in the film "A Simple Wish." For a single season, Short hosted "The Martin Short Show," which featured his popular character Jiminy Glick, who later got his own Comedy Central show, "Primetime Glick," for three seasons beginning in 2000.

In 2006, Short reunited with Allen, appearing opposite him as Jack Frost in "The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause." Beginning in 2010, he voiced the titular Dr. Seuss character in "The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!" for three spread out seasons and a total of five specials.Short is currently starring with longtime friend and co-star Steve Martin in the Hulu murder-podcast sitcom "Only Murders in the Building."

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Astronauts’ bodily fluids might help build shelters on colonized planets – Stars and Stripes

Posted: at 10:58 am

(Materials Today/Facebook)

Can humans build structures on other planets? Maybe it could be as easy as giving blood.

Given the expense and difficulty of getting building materials to places like the moon or Mars, the idea of construction is tricky at best.

A new study suggests some surprising materials that could make the task much easier: astronauts' blood, urine, or even tears.

In a paper in Materials Today Bio, researchers explore a proposed way to add astronauts' own bodily fluids to another planet's soil. The resulting material would be similar to concrete - but could be reinforced to be even stronger.

The formula relies on combining human serum albumin, the most abundant protein in blood plasma, with water and the dust and rock on other planets. They call the resulting material, which is similar to concrete, AstroCrete.

When the researchers added urea - a substance found in urine, sweat and tears - to the mixture, it increased its compressive strength threefold, making it much stronger than concrete.

The paper lays out the method and suggests ways to harvest the needed compounds and use them on a hypothetical lunar or Martian base. The compound could be used to create bricks or act as a mortar that binds existing rocks together, helping astronauts create much-needed shelters against the sun's radiation.

The scientists admit the feasibility and health effects of the method would need "significant further investigation," but they suggest a single astronaut could fuel the creation of the equivalent of a single clay brick a month with their blood plasma alone. Over the course of a mission on Mars, they write, each astronaut "could produce enough additional habitat space to support another astronaut, potentially allowing the steady expansion of an early Martian colony."

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10 things in tech you need to know today – Business Insider Australia

Posted: at 10:58 am

Jordan Parker Erb Sep. 23, 2021, 10:00 AM

Good morning and welcome to 10 Things in Tech. If this was forwarded to you, sign up here. Plus, download Insiders app for news on the go click here for iOS and here for Android.

Lets get started.

1. Facebooks CTO is stepping down. Mike Schroepfer, Facebooks chief technology officer and one of Mark Zuckerbergs closest confidants, will be taking a role as senior fellow within Facebook next year. Everything we know about his departure, including his successor.

2. Apple CEO Tim Cook wants employees to stop leaking internal memos, according to leaked internal memo. In a note that was ultimately leaked to The Verge, Cook said people who leak memos do not belong at Apple, and that the company would track down whoever kept leaking internal documents. More on that ironic twist of fate.

3. Facebook and Instagram user satisfaction just dropped to all time lows. After surveying thousands of people, one of Wall Streets top internet analysts found that users are increasingly unhappy with the apps. Heres what else he found about the apps downward spiral.

4. Bill Gates was questioned about his meetings with Jeffrey Epstein in a new PBS interview. Gates said he regretted having dinners with the convicted sex offender and disgraced financier, and that their meetings were a mistake. Heres what else he said.

5. Facebook overpaid the FTC by nearly $US5 ($AU7) billion to protect Zuckerberg, shareholders claim. In a lawsuit made public Tuesday, shareholders said after the Cambridge Analytica scandal Facebook overpaid the FTC to prevent it from suing Zuckerberg personally. Get the details on the payments they allege were meant to make his problems go away.

6. Amazon gave $US100,000 ($AU138,098) in cash to employees who proved they were vaccinated against COVID-19. The company dolled out cash prizes and cars worth as much as $US40,000 ($AU55,239) to eight employees in a company lottery and two grand prizes of $US500,000 ($AU690,489) are still up for grabs.

7. Tesla drivers looked at the road less when using Autopilot, according to an MIT study. But researchers said the findings didnt necessarily mean the drivers were distracted heres why.

8. Elon Musk just took his last house off the market. Musk pledged in 2020 to sell almost all physical possessions to fund the colonization of Mars but seems to be hanging onto one final property. What we know about Musks Bay Area mansion.

9. New documents show the behind-the-scenes battle between a powerful Google exec and a fired right-wing agitator. Emails obtained by Insider show previously unreported details in the dustup between SVP Urs Hlzle and Kevin Cernekee, an engineer who many Googlers considered a right-wing provocateur, and who was ultimately fired. Read our exclusive report.

10. Better quadrupled its workforce during the pandemic and became one of Americas top startups. The mortgage company hired 7,000 people during the pandemic, and was nominated by LinkedIn as the top startup in the US. Execs shared with us how they ramped up hiring and how they keep staff happy. Get the inside story on Betters rise to the top.

Compiled by Jordan Erb. Tips/comments? Email [emailprotected] or tweet @JordanParkerErb.

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How does terraforming work in the Alien universe? – Space.com

Posted: at 10:58 am

The subject of terraforming lies at the center of James Camerons Aliens, at least when it comes to worldbuilding. Released in 1979, Ridley Scotts Alien already saw a group of space truckers visit an unknown planetoid, which would later become LV-426 in the 1986 sequel. And spacesuits werent needed anymore to walk on its surface when Hadleys Hope went silent.

After Ellen Ripley and the crew of the Nostromo came across a massive ship of unknown origin filled to the brim with xenomorph eggs in 2122, the Weyland-Yutani Corporation knew they had struck (biological) gold, and a terraforming process was kickstarted as a cover-up in 2159, two years after the colony was established.

By the time Ripley was found floating in space and learned about the xeno-related developments, this slow but steady transformation had been going on for roughly 20 years. LV-426 still looked like a hellscape, but the air was breathable. How did Weyland-Yutani achieve this? And, more importantly, would it be feasible in real life? According to geophysicist David Waltham, it might just be a matter of getting lucky and finding the right planet, as there is nothing which would make it impossible.

Before we continue, if you want more Alien content, be sure to check out Alien movies ranked article to see a rundown of the franchise's highs and lows.

Watch the Alien franchise on Amazon Prime Video

The concept of terraforming has been around for quite a while, especially if we explore contemporary literature. Of course, plenty of science fiction stories deal with new planets already suited for humans (or at least humanoids), but some authors chose to explain how giant balls of rock and dust could potentially be turned into Earth-like worlds capable of supporting life.

An interesting riff on the subject (and one of the first) was H.G. Wells The War of the Worlds (1898), which described a red weed brought by Martians that quickly killed off Earths plant life and began to take over our planets surface. The idea of advanced extraterrestrials doing their own terraforming during or after an invasion is quite plausible. If you think about it, humans would be aliens to other planets everyone in the universe would want to feel at home and make their existence easier wherever they went, right?

Sci-fi has specifically put a lot of thought into the question: could we really terraform Mars, making it into a cozy new planet for mankind? Nowadays, were looking at our red neighbor as a dead planet that once, almost surely, harbored life of some kind. This idea was already floated by authors such as Edgar Rice Burroughs and his Princess of Mars (1912). Much later, films like Total Recall (1990) toyed with the notion of terraforming Mars in the mainstream, making it way too easy an underground ancient alien machine promptly turns solidified atmospheric gases that were buried into a breathable atmosphere. We can work with mysterious alien tech and solidified materials, but the process itself would take centuries regardless of the presence of the needed gases. More importantly, the pressure would also take quite a while to rise we dont want anyone without a spacesuit to explode.

Back to Aliens, we find Building Better Worlds as the main slogan of the nefarious Weyland-Yutani Corporation. Apparently, terraforming (and presumably mining) celestial bodies is a large part of their galactic business. When acid hits the fan and the xenomorphs take over Hadleys Hope, their operations on LV-426 have been active for decades. But is that enough time for Acheron (formally labelled as LV-426) to develop a breathable atmosphere?

The film itself doesnt have many answers when it comes to terraforming, but the procedure appears to revolve around reutilizing the existing atmosphere breaking down pre-existing elements, transforming, and redistributing them instead of starting from scratch, which would indeed take centuries. Basically, mankind cant turn any planet or planetoid into an Earth-like environment in the Alien universe; most components need to be present already, same goes for the atmospheric conditions. This fixes the centuries-long problem that comes up in other works of fiction, or at least makes the storytelling more realistic.

Complementary material detailing the Alien universes history and technology claim the first Automated Atmosphere Processor became a reality in 2029, with a first terraforming process happening on Gliese 667 Cc during the 2030s and ending around 2040. The Weyland Corp Terraforming Division was created in 2072, effectively starting a new age of space exploration. As stated before, native atmospheres are transformed thanks to the companys Atmosphere Processing Plants and other techniques, such as algae bloom tanks that consume excess carbon dioxide and generate oxygen. It all depends on the properties of planets which have been previously scouted, inspected, and approved for viable terraformation.

As we can see in Aliens, the process isnt pretty either. LV-426, which is actually one of the three moons orbiting Calpamos in the Zeta Reticuli system, is a dark and rocky wasteland unfit for life despite its now breathable atmosphere. Xenomorphs, which arent native inhabitants, do okay because, well theyre xenomorphs, the perfect organism. For all we know, they can float around space just fine.

Acherons transformation never reaches its end because the Processing Plants reactor exploded as a result of Ripley and the Colonial Marines battle against the xenomorph infestation of Hadleys Hope. We do, however, get to see successfully terraformed planets in other pieces of Alien media, but were not stepping outside the franchises cinematic canon here. Ridley Scotts Alien prequels Prometheus and Alien: Covenant are strictly linked to terraformation as seen in James Camerons film though. The former explores another moon of Calpamos, LV-223, whose atmosphere is nearly identical to Earths. And the latter takes place mostly in Planet 4, which housed a city populated by the Engineers, the ancient beings behind bio-weapons which gave birth to the xenos and who most likely colonized and terraformed a number of planets, including Earth. It all comes full circle in those films despite all their faults.

Planet 4 remains an interesting Earth-but-not-quite world; its vegetation clearly has the same origin as the plants on Earth, yet the planet was depicted as odd and different enough. Reaching such a step in planetary development would be a big and complicated job. Some scientists and artists suggest maybe we should try to terraform Earth by letting nature reclaim parts of our planet again and fix what weve destroyed in order to get a little practice.

Some thinkers have also warned (and keep warning) future space explorers and corporate giants of the inherent ethical problems that should be considered when drastically changing a worlds atmosphere and/or geography. For example, in his legendary book Cosmos, Carl Sagans opinion on the matter supported the idea of creating new worlds for mankind, yet he believed Mars . . . belongs to the Martians, even if they are microbes. We can safely guess some folks said something similar before Europeans discovered America and its peoples. This whole issue slips into environmental philosophy and the discussion around anthropocentrism, which may be stories for another article.

For now, NASA and other organizations claim that terraforming is not possible using present-day technology and that makes the creation of Earth-like environments impossible, so were a bit behind schedule when compared to the Alien canon. Needless to say, business magnates and new-age tech gurus like Elon Musk disagree, and are saying they can terraform Mars themselves right after the private space race takes them there. Lets just hope Tesla or Amazon dont end up becoming our universes version of Weyland-Yutani.

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Most popular baby names in the last 100 years – WWNY

Posted: at 10:58 am

Names have power.

Numerous studies have shown that names can impact a person's level of career success along with their likelihood of getting a job.There have also been cases where judges have had to legally intervene and prevent attempted name changes on the grounds of abuse, confusion, or simply being too bizarre.

Stackercombed through Social Security Administration data, examining births from 1920 to 2019 (most recent data), and the corresponding names given to newborns. All names are from Social Security card applications for births within the U.S., and the top 50 for each gender are ranked according to their popularity within the total births over the past 100 years.

Whether a child is named in honor of a grandparent, a fictional character, or just because a chosen moniker sounds pretty, that choice remains with that person for the rest of their life, short of an official name change. No matter how arbitrary, our given names resonate as significant components of our identities.

Keep reading to discover the most popular baby names in the last 100 yearsand if yours made the cut.

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- Babies born in the last century: 602,696- 2019 popularity rank: #676 (377 babies born)- Peak year: 1947

Perhaps the multitude of famous Jerrys, from Seinfeld to a certain mischievous mouse, have contributed to the popularity of this beloved name. Jerry has somewhat fallen from gracethere were more than 17,000 baby Jerrys in 1943 and just 488 in 2017.

- Babies born in the last century: 531,894- 2019 popularity rank: #537 (567 babies born)- Peak year: 1922

The popularity of the name Virginia may be linked to the state's crucial role in American history. When the English began colonizing North America in the late 16th century, Virginia covered more area than the state's modern boundaries and was named such in honor of The Virgin Queen, Elizabeth I of England.

- Babies born in the last century: 611,319- 2019 popularity rank: #552 (506 babies born)- Peak year: 1952

Modern-day Dennises have a long name lineage with varied cultural touchstones. The name's Greek origin is Dionysios, which refers to a follower of the god of wine and revelry, Dionysos. The name is also connected to St. Denis, a third-century martyrnot to mention the titular character from the classic TV series "Dennis the Menace" that ran from 1959 to 1963.

- Babies born in the last century: 541,277- 2019 popularity rank: #1,696 (122 babies born)- Peak year: 1954

The name Janet was originally inspired by a shorter version of the name Jane, which itself comes from the French for Jehanne.From early Hollywood starletsJanet Gaynor and Janet Leigh to singer-songwriter Janet Jackson, Janets have been making entertainment headlines for the last century.

- Babies born in the last century: 637,347- 2019 popularity rank: #19 (9,349 babies born)- Peak year: 1927

Historically and in folklore, Jack is often used to represent a charming, clever, if not slightly off-kilter characterthere's Jack Frost, Jack of Jack and Jill,Jack with his infamous beanstalk, and even Capt. Jack Sparrow. The name tends to represent the success of the common man, although of course has been lent to some darker figures like Jack the Ripper, as well.

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- Babies born in the last century: 542,250- 2019 popularity rank: #940 (279 babies born)- Peak year: 1947

The popularity of Carolyn steadily increased throughout the 1930s, rocketing from the #41 spot in girl baby names in 1933 to #10 in 1942. From there, however, its cache began to decrease once again. Carolyn was ranked as 841st in 2017. Well-known Carolyns include actor Carolyn McCormick ("Law and Order," "You Know my Name") and Carolyn Cassady, an American writer who was married to Neal Cassady and was a major character in Jack Kerouac's classic memoir "On the Road."

- Babies born in the last century: 663,725- 2019 popularity rank: #206 (1,870 babies born)- Peak year: 1964

Saint Patrick himself was vastly responsible for both the Christianization of Ireland and bringing the name Patrick into vogue. However, the name was not used much on the Emerald Isle before the 17th century, as it was seen as too sacred for everyday use.

- Babies born in the last century: 546,309- 2019 popularity rank: #191 (1,529 babies born)- Peak year: 1985

A name is truly part of the cultural zeitgeist when it's linked to a particular hairstyle, but the name Rachel far outdates Jennifer Aniston's lovely locks on Friends.Rachel was a biblical figure, appearing in Genesis as the wife of Jacob, and mother of Joseph and Benjamin.

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- Babies born in the last century: 666,982- 2019 popularity rank: #11 (11,230 babies born)- Peak year: 1993

Early popularity of Alexander can almost certainly be traced back to Alexander the Great, the Macedonian ruler who established one of the largest empires of the ancient world. The name remains beloved and for several years throughout the 1990s, nearly 1% of male babies took the name Alexander. In 2019, the name did not crack the top 10 but was still a fairly common choice.

- Babies born in the last century: 548,279- 2019 popularity rank: #3,068 (52 babies born)- Peak year: 1955

Debra, a variant of the name Deborah, has strong Jewish origins. In Hebrew, devorahtranslates to bee,and Deborah is also the name of a Book of Judges figure in the Old Testament, who leads the Israelites to safety away from the Canaanites. Deborah was later adopted by the English.

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- Babies born in the last century: 679,913- 2019 popularity rank: #328 (1,011 babies born)- Peak year: 1924

Though there are still new Raymonds being born in the U.S., the name reached its height of popularity several decades ago. It was the 15th most popular baby name in 1918 and held a ranking close to that for several years. By 1949, Raymond was ranked #30 for boy's names and generally continued to fall from there.

- Babies born in the last century: 550,466- 2019 popularity rank: #243 (1,299 babies born)- Peak year: 1956

Catherine has lost popularity by a slim margin to a very similar-looking cousin: Katherine. However, Catherines everywhere can take solace in the fact that they have more than one legendary figure among their group; for example, Catherine of Aragon and Catherine the Great. While the latter Russian empress is often remembered for her romantic activity, she also organized the coup that brought her to power.

- Babies born in the last century: 706,987- 2019 popularity rank: #390 (798 babies born)- Peak year: 1962

Gregory stems back to Greek roots, with the name itself indicating watchfulness. The name has also belonged to many a pope, beginning with Gregory I, who was commonly known as Saint Gregory the Great and is considered afounding figure of the medieval papacy.

- Babies born in the last century: 563,333- 2019 popularity rank: #922 (285 babies born)- Peak year: 1952

It likely comes as no surprise that Christine comes from Christian origins. The name's meaning, with Latin roots, is commonly understood as follower of Christ. The popularity of this name was highest in 1952 but has fallen since.

- Babies born in the last century: 707,244- 2019 popularity rank: #403 (768 babies born)- Peak year: 1918

Frank most certainly falls into the category of simple, classic boys names that once experienced a boom but have taken a dive in popularity in recent years. However, there's a chance that Frank could come back in a slightly different form. In 2018,Todaynoted that avintage naming trend was on its way back: using boyish nicknames such as Frankie for girls.

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- Babies born in the last century: 563,391- 2019 popularity rank: #231 (1,335 babies born)- Peak year: 1920

Ruth has one of the earliest peak years of any name on this list, having reached its apex in 1920. The name has biblical roots, but the most notable modern-dayRuthis likely RuthBader Ginsburg, who was born in 1933 and served asassociate justice of the Supreme Court.

- Babies born in the last century: 710,086- 2019 popularity rank: #22 (9,237 babies born)- Peak year: 2001

Samuel, a name with extensive historical origins, has consistently ranked in the 21st century as one of the most-favored name choices for baby boys. Samuel is originally derived from the Hebrew name Shemuel. Important historical figures bearing this name include Samuel the Prophet, a revered figure in Judaism.

- Babies born in the last century: 570,150- 2019 popularity rank: #2 (17,102 babies born)- Peak year: 2003

Though the origin of the name Emma dates back earlier than the 18th century, the rise of its popularity may be connected to the 1709 Matthew prior poem called Henry and Emma.Of course, Jane Austen's Emma,published in 1815, probably didn't hurt either. The name hit its peak in 2003one year after Rachel and Ross named their daughter Emma on Friends.

- Babies born in the last century: 730,425- 2019 popularity rank: #7 (12,942 babies born)- Peak year: 1989

The name Benjamincomes from the Hebrew name Binyamin, which translates to son of the south. Benjamin hasmade a strong showing in recent years, increasing in popularity from the #22 most popular baby name in 2010.

- Babies born in the last century: 574,858- 2019 popularity rank: #121 (2,431 babies born)- Peak year: 1990

The name Katherine has Greek origins and translates to pure.Famous Katherines, both real and otherwise, include Katherine of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew and actress Katherine Heigl.

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- Babies born in the last century: 759,155- 2019 popularity rank: #140 (2,671 babies born)- Peak year: 1992

Throughout England, Brandon is the name of several small towns and parishes. There are Brandons located in Warwickshire, Suffolk, and elsewhere. The meaning, derived from the Old English brom and dun, translates closely to the hill where broom grows.

- Babies born in the last century: 576,029- 2019 popularity rank: #80 (3,351 babies born)- Peak year: 1990

In the decade leading up to Samantha's peak popularity year, Molly Ringwald played Samantha Sam Baker in the 1984 film Sixteen Candles andSamantha of immense American Girl Doll fame was initially released in 1986.From 2000 to 2019, Samantha fell from #7 to #80 on the list of most popular girl baby names in the U.S.

- Babies born in the last century: 769,663- 2019 popularity rank: #527 (536 babies born)- Peak year: 1971

The name Scott, unsurprisingly, has a centuries-long Scottish history. Early records of Scott as a last name date back to the 12th century in Roxburgh, Scotland. However, there is also evidence of the Old English word scottidenoting Gaels whose conquered land (in the fifth century and earlier)eventually became Scotland.

- Babies born in the last century: 588,265- 2019 popularity rank: #228 (1,355 babies born)- Peak year: 1985

Like neon spandex and big, permed hair, Nicole goes hand-in-hand with the 1980s. The name remained close to the top-10 most popular girl names from 1978 to 1988. During the absolute peak of Nicole mania, more than 1% of female babies born were given the name.

- Babies born in the last century: 777,285- 2019 popularity rank: #155 (2,516 babies born)- Peak year: 1988

Between 1971 and 1972, the name Justin saw a massive increase in popularity amongst baby boys, climbing from #103 to #60. Though the best year for Justin was 1988, in which it was the 17th most popular boys name, Justin was solidly in the top 100 boys names every single year from 1972 to 2014. Of course, two of the most prominent Justins today were born within this time frameJustin Bieber, in 1994, and Justin Timberlake, in 1981.

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- Babies born in the last century: 592,694- 2019 popularity rank: #1,496 (145 babies born)- Peak year: 1954

The U.S. Social Security website's records of Pamela stop in 2011, during which there were only 266 little Pams brought into the world. However, during the 1950s, Pamela was quite a popular name. One of the earliest usages of the name occurred in the 16th century, in Sir Philip Sidney's The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia.

- Babies born in the last century: 802,430- 2019 popularity rank: #757 (311 babies born)- Peak year: 1947

Larry was originally shorthand for Lawrence or Laurence. Larry reached its height of popularity in the 1940s, and was most popular in 1947the year comedian Larry David was born. Other famous Larrys include TV and radio host Larry King, born in 1933, and basketball player Larry Bird, born in 1956.

- Babies born in the last century: 606,286- 2019 popularity rank: #1,069 (235 babies born)- Peak year: 1957

Brenda saw sustained popularity throughout the mid-20th century. Though the exact origin of this name is up for speculation, some guess it may be linked to the Old Norse word brandr, meaning sword. Singer Brenda Lee first gained national fame as a childin 1956when she appeared onABCs Ozark Jubileetheyear before the name hit peak popularity.

- Babies born in the last century: 840,005- 2019 popularity rank: #311 (1,084 babies born)- Peak year: 1952

Like another pair on this list (Catherine and Katherine), Stephen and Steven are in a bit of a battle. Unfortunately for the pcontingent nationwide, it's the other spelling that has maintained a little more consistent popularity. But it's not all bad newsStephen was popular throughout the middle of the 20th century, and gets to claim quite a few famous namesakes.

- Babies born in the last century: 629,400- 2019 popularity rank: #63 (3,807 babies born)- Peak year: 1918

Anna has been one of the most consistently well-liked names of the past century. In 1900, Anna was the third most popular baby girl name in the country, and the lowest it ever dipped since then was to 106th place, in 1971.

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- Babies born in the last century: 844,121- 2019 popularity rank: #64 (5,418 babies born)- Peak year: 1988

Jonathans have maintained their place in the top 100 most popular boys names every year from 1962 to 2019. Originally derived from a Hebrew name pronounced Yonatan,meaning Yahweh has given,Jonathan is recognizable from the Old Testament.

- Babies born in the last century: 652,923- 2019 popularity rank: #429 (737 babies born)- Peak year: 1918

While the name Helen peaked in American popularity a full century ago, there are quite a few famous or influential Helens to keep its legacy alive. Between mythological figure Helen of Troy, the incredible Helen Keller, and the iconic Helen Mirren, the name Helen will certainly remain on peoples' lips.

- Babies born in the last century: 877,492- 2019 popularity rank: #176 (2,187 babies born)- Peak year: 1970

Eric, derived from Old Norse origins, is said to mean eternal ruler. Eric is one of few names with the distinct honor of being linked to a Disney prince (although there are some who contend that Prince Eric was, well, not exactly the best.

- Babies born in the last century: 658,437- 2019 popularity rank: #256 (1,266 babies born)- Peak year: 1971

Angela from The Officeinfamously wore American Girl doll clothes made for large colonial dolls,but not all Angelas are quite so eccentric. The name Angela has a rich history, perhaps the most exciting part of which is the name's link to, you guessed it, angels.

- Babies born in the last century: 891,818- 2019 popularity rank: #78 (4,601 babies born)- Peak year: 1995

Nicholas is a 1990s mainstay through and through. The name remained in the top 10 for most popular baby names for boys throughout most of that decade and into the early 2000s, but has taken a fall since then. Nicholas is derived from nike, meaning victory.

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- Babies born in the last century: 668,154- 2019 popularity rank: #1,487 (146 babies born)- Peak year: 1935

Shirley Temple (the person, not the drink), can perhaps be thanked for this name's 1935 popularity peak, as some of her early hit films, like Curly Top,were released around this time.

- Babies born in the last century: 899,858- 2019 popularity rank: #773 (302 babies born)- Peak year: 1952

Though the name is not immensely common amongst babies today, it did see an impressive span of high popularity. Gary began to gain popularity in the early 1930s, and maintained a spot in the top 30 boy names from 1937 all the way to 1966.

- Babies born in the last century: 680,682- 2019 popularity rank: #203 (1,471 babies born)- Peak year: 1975

Amy wasn't just popular in the 1970s; it was a smash hit, cracking the top two most popular girl baby names four years in a row. Interestingly, the name seems to have caught on in the U.K. slightly later. Amy was the 23rd most popular girls name in England in 2007 while it only landed at #119 that same year in the U.S.

- Babies born in the last century: 925,412- 2019 popularity rank: #13 (10,679 babies born)- Peak year: 1998

Like many other names on this list, Jacob can be traced back to biblical roots. Jacob, the Hebrew patriarch, serves as the traditional ancestor for the people of Israel. According to Genesis, Jacob was incredibly cunning and quick-witted, and eventually fathered 13 children.

- Babies born in the last century: 689,366- 2019 popularity rank: #940 (279 babies born)- Peak year: 1951

Kathleen has a mighty impressive record. The name remained among the top 100 baby names for girls for seven decades, all the way from 1920 to 1990. Kathleen is of Irish origin, as an alteration on the name Caitlin.

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- Babies born in the last century: 937,629- 2019 popularity rank: #54 (6,087 babies born)- Peak year: 1985

Ryan is a newcomer in the name game. According to SSA data, there's no record of the name, or the amount was negligible in the U.S. prior to 1946. Ryan then made a giant leap in popularity from 1970 to 1971, moving from #139 to #51 on the list of most popular boys names. Ryan remained extremely popular for the next 30 years.

- Babies born in the last century: 705,685- 2019 popularity rank: #748 (373 babies born)- Peak year: 1957

Though some have contested that the name Cynthia has long lived in the shadow of its assumed nickname, Cindy, it has still found plenty of time to stand on its own. Cynthia was extremely popular through much of the 1950s and 1960s.

- Babies born in the last century: 975,104- 2019 popularity rank: #364 (876 babies born)- Peak year: 1962

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Five Superpowers That Just Aren’t As Fun as They Sound – tor.com

Posted: at 10:54 am

Who among us has not dreamed of having superpowers? We are urged thereto by the avalanche of comics, movies, novels, and roleplaying games featuring abilities beyond mortal ken. Yet not all superpowers are created equal. Other abilities have disquieting consequences for their possessors.

Im not going to talk about superhumans with powers that would kill them or their friends if exercised. No one dreams of being any of the following:

Im talking, here, about powers that appear on their surface to be useful but later reveal themselves to be harmful to, or at least extremely alienating for, those who wield them. Below are my musings about five such examples

Many characters in comicsthe Human Torch, the other Human Torch, Flame Princess, and othershave the ability to cloak themselves in flames or in some cases (like Willy Pete (content warning) or Brimstone) are composed entirely of fire. Usually, such powers confer a degree of invulnerability to attack (ever try to shoot a fire to death?) and invulnerability to fire itself. A tricky power, which recurs again and again in comics because beings sheathed in flame look awesome.

Theres a downside, in that there are few problems that can be solved by setting things on fire. Also, human surroundings arent designed for fire resistance. Whole neighborhoods could go up in flames if the superhuman isnt careful. Ditto fields and forests. Best to keep Johnny Storm far from the West Coast during the drier months. Or entirely, just to be on the safe side.

It is also true that fire is a horrific weapon. Burns are a painful way to die. Burn scars and associated trauma can be debilitating. Comics tend to handwave away these facts. But they are real. There is a reason Protocol III to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons limits use of incendiary weapons against civilians.

***

Wouldnt it be great to be able to run across the country in a heartbeat, to clean ones house in a blink of an eye, to compose an overdue Tor.com article in one flat second? Except, of course, speeders are only fast from the perspective of normal people. From their own point of view, they move at regular speeds. Tasks that those around them think are finished almost instantly are still time-consuming from the viewpoint of someone whose perceptions work a thousand times faster.

Furthermore, from the speedsters perspective, everyone around them moves at the speed of cold molasses. A five-minute conversation might to them feel like it consumed weeks. Alan Moore once described the Flash as a man who moves so fast that his life is an endless gallery of statues. How horrific is that?

***

Anyone who has ever struggled to understand other people or to make themselves understood might wish for the ability to imprint information directly into someone elses mind (or conversely, to retrieve information from said other persons mind and figure out exactly what they are trying to say). Telepathy provides convenience and clarity.

The catch is that telepathy provides convenience and clarity. People are used to the privacy of their own minds; they share with others only that which they believe socially acceptable to share. Scan someones mind and who knows what you might discover? Particularly if the person being scanned makes the mistake of trying not to think of whatever terrible inner thoughts they might have Humans have conversational circumlocution for a reason, as Poul Andersons Journeys End demonstrated. Treasure your inability to communicate.

***

Wanting godlike intelligence also seems like something of a no-brainer. What could possibly go wrong with enhanced cognition (leaving aside the fact that there are lots of different forms of intelligence)? Intelligence is a powerful tool, an advantage that one might expect would allow the possessor to circumvent any obstacle, social or physical.

Exceptunless youre willing to contrive some way to boost everyone elses intelligence, you are consigned to a lifetime as the smartest person in the room. You will be the person on whose shoulders others will happily drop the weight of the world. Worse, you may be the person whose advice is frequently dismissed because nobody around them can understand the logic behind said advice, even when you take the time to dumb it down for them. Just ask Brainiac 5!

Far worse is the possibility that your exalted cognition may allow you to fully comprehend the reality of impending doom without being able to do anything to prevent doomsday. Not every problem has a solution. Ignorance can be bliss.

***

Indestructability has many, many positive aspects, starting with being indestructible. I cannot speak for the rest of you but whenever I am on fire, bleeding from conversational head wounds, hastily batting off fire-ants, or experiencing the immediate effects of having just been stabbed with semi-molten glass, I do yearn for a slightly greater resistance to physical harm than I seem to have. Even regenerative powers would be useful.

The catch in many cases has to do with time. Indestructible characters often gain comparative immunity to aging. On a personal level, this is awesome. On a social level, it means everyone around one is a mayfly. Every social connection between immortals and mortals is temporary by its nature. Its the nature of life that we will outlive some friends. The excessively durable can count on outliving all of them, along with the cultures they grew up in, entire cycles of civilizations, their home worlds, and possibly the universe itself. But at least they will have lots of time to contemplate their situation.

***

Now, arent you happy to be your ordinary self?

No doubt you have your own examples of stock superpowers with unacknowledged drawbacks, or else you would like to dispute the points above. Comments are, as ever, below.

In the words of Wikipedia editor TexasAndroid, prolific book reviewer and perennialDarwin Award nomineeJames Davis Nicoll is of questionable notability. His work has appeared in Publishers Weekly and Romantic Times as well as on his own websites,James Nicoll Reviewsand the Aurora finalistYoung People Read Old SFF(where he is assisted by editorKaren Lofstromand web person Adrienne L. Travis). He is a four-time finalist for the Best Fan Writer Hugo Award and is surprisingly flammable.

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